Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus

adult dark phase

adult dark phase adult pale phase juvenile European distribution

Identification

Pomarine Skuas are most likely to be seen as distant shapes flying over a stormy sea, identifiable only by the dedicated birdwatchers who have spent dozens of hours watching empty seas and hoping for moments such as this. The easiest way to identify Pomarine Skuas is by their distinctive central tail feathers; long, broad and twisted like a pair of spoons sticking out beyond the rest of the tail. Unfortunately, such well-marked adults are very rare around Britain, so instead, we have to pick out the juveniles. These are very similar to the much commoner Arctic Skua but to a trained eye they are bulkier, more barrel-chested, with a slower, steadier flight. You may notice that the bill is contrastingly pale grey at the base and black at the tip and if you see that the pale patch on the underside of the primaries is split into two by a dark line then you can congratulate yourself for identifying it correctly.

Habitat

Winters at sea.

Migration

Can be seen in Britain during August to November on its southerly migrations to the Atlantic coast of west Africa. The return passage in May involves impressive numbers passing the Outer Hebrides. birds arrive on their breeding grounds in early June; non-breeding birds may begin to return south in July. Some birds migrate overland, turning up in the Middle East.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Pomarine Skua is classed as Local: generally fairly regular or common species that a 'county lister' or a birding beginner might be interested in going to see. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Skye, Highland 22/08/2010	Skye, Highland 22/08/2010	Skye, Highland 22/08/2010	at sea, Spitzbergen, Svalbard 08/08/2009	SOSSA Pelagic, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia 23/01/2010
Fuwairit beach, Qatar 22/01/2010	Fuwairit beach, Qatar 22/01/2010	Fuwayrit, Ash Shamal, Qatar 22/01/2010	Fuwayrit, Ash Shamal, Qatar 22/01/2010	Fuwarit spit, Qatar 28/12/2009

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Pomarine Skua breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Russia

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